Guzmania hybrid &#39;Alegra&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Guzmania  hybrid named ‘Alegra’ characterized by solid growth habit; funnel-form rosette plant, measuring about 60 cm in height (above the pot when flowering); numerous, green color foliage (measuring about 30 to 50 cm length and about 4.5 cm in width) Superior floral bract production; bracts are orange-red in color (closest to RHS 33A), compound inflorescence, measuring about 25 cm in height and about 20 cm in diameter; and long-lasting habit.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new, distinct and stable hybrid of Guzmania hybrid, hereinafter referred to as ‘Alegra’. The present invention relates to seeds which are the Guzmania hybrid ‘Alegra’, as well as, plants and plant parts produced by these seeds which have all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of the Guzmania hybrid ‘Alegra’. The present invention also relates to methods for producing these seeds and plants of the Guzmania hybrid ‘Alegra’. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method of producing progeny Guzmania plants by crossing Guzmania ‘Alegra’, as either the female or seed or male or pollen parent, with another Guzmania plant and selecting progeny.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new, distinct and stable hybrid of Guzmania hybrid, and hereinafter referred to by the variety denomination ‘Alegra’. The new Guzmania ‘Alegra’ originated from a cross made in a controlled breeding program by the inventors in 2001, and then first flowered in 2006, in Assendelft, The Netherlands. The female or seed parent is the Guzmania lingulata inbred line identified by code 0136468 (unpatented). The male or pollen parent is the Guzmania wittmackii inbred line identified by code 01364344 (unpatented).

Guzmania is a member of the Bromeliaceae family. Guzmania is predominantly epiphytic with a few terrestrial species and is native to the tropics. For the most part, species vary in diameter from 7 or 8 inches to 3 or 4 feet and have rosettes of glossy, smooth-edged leaves.

Floral bracts of Guzmania frequently have brilliant colors and may last for many months. The range of colors for Guzmania is generally from yellow through orange but may also include flame red and red-purple. White or yellow, tubular, three-petalled flowers may also appear on a stem or within the leaf rosette but are usually short-lived.

Guzmania may be advantageously grown as pot plants for greenhouse or home use. Typically, the plants are shaded from direct sunlight. During the spring to autumn period, the central vase-like part of the leaf rosette is normally filled with water.

Guzmania is native to tropical America. Leaves of Guzmania are usually formed as basal rosettes which are stiff and entire and in several vertical ranks. Guzmania plants have terminal spikes or panicles which are often bracted with petals united in a tube about as long as the calyx. The ovary is superior and the seeds plumose.

Asexual propagation of Guzmania is frequently performed by vegetative means through the use of tissue culture practices. Propagation of Guzmania can also be from offshoots which can be detached from the mother plant and grown in an appropriate soil or bark mixture.

Methods for cultivation and crossing of Guzmania are well known. For a detailed discussion, reference is made to the following publications, which are incorporated herein by reference: Benzing, David H., THE BIOLOGY OF THE BROMELIADS, Mad River Press, Inc., Eureka (1980); Zimmer, Karl, BROMELIEN, Verlag, Paul Parey, Berlin (1986); and Rauh, Werner, BROMELIEN, Verlag Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart (1981).

A Guzmania inbred is produced by brother/sister crossing over several generations to produce a genetically homozygous plant selection. A hybrid cultivar is produced by crossing two genetically distinct inbred lines, collecting seeds produced by the cross, and germinating seeds so-produced to make hybrid plants. The hybrid seeds and plants produced by this method are uniform with respect their morphological and physiological characteristics.

A need exists for a greater variety of Guzmania cultivars with attractive ornamental features. Additionally, a need exists for additional Guzmania hybrid cultivars that can be easily propagated by seed. The new Guzmania ‘Alegra’ was developed through a controlled breeding program and exhibits unique, desirable and stable characteristics.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides Guzmania plant selections that are solid, medium-sized, long-lasting hybrids with superior bract production and red inflorescence that exhibits good keeping quality. The present invention also provides Guzmania plant selections with a compound head inflorescence with a unique orange-red color which distinguishes the new cultivar from typical Guzmania.

These and other objectives have been achieved in accordance with the present invention which provides ‘Alegra’ as a new Guzmania cultivar that is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventors, Elly Bak and Nico D. M. Steur, in Assendelft, The Netherlands, in 2001. The female or seed parent is the Guzmania lingulata inbred line identified by code 0136468 (unpatented). The male or pollen parent is the Guzmania wittmackii inbred line identified by code 01364344 (unpatented).

Both parental cultivars have a sufficient degree of homozygosity such that the progeny of the cross are genetypically and phenotypically uniform. The new hybrid ‘Alegra’ therefore can be produced by sexual reproduction by crossing the parental inbred lines identified by the codes 0136468 and 01364344 to produce a population of progeny plants, each of which has the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new hybrid ‘Alegra’.

Seeds which are the hybrid ‘Alegra’ are produced by crossing the parental lines identified by the codes 0136468 and 01364344, and have been deposited with the American Type Culture Collection, 10801 University Boulevard, Manassas, Va. 20110-2209 and accorded Patent Deposit Designation no.: PTA 120675.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to seeds which produce Guzmania hybrid ‘Alegra’. The present invention also relates to Guzmania plants, and parts thereof, having all the physiological and morphological characteristics of Guzmania hybrid ‘Alegra’. The present invention relates to a plant produced from seeds which are Guzmania hybrid ‘Alegra’. The present invention also relates to plant parts, such as pollen, seeds or inflorescence produced by Guzmania hybrid ‘Alegra’.

The present invention relates to a method of producing seed which are Guzmania hybrid ‘Alegra’, by a crossing Guzmania lingulata inbred line identified by code 0136468 (unpatented) as the female or seed parent with Guzmania wittmackii inbred line identified by code 01364344 (unpatented) as the male or pollen parent. harvesting seeds produced from said cross.

The present invention also relates to a method of producing plants having all the physiological and morphological characteristics of the Guzmania hybrid ‘Alegra’ comprising the steps of (a) crossing Guzmania lingulata inbred identified by code 0136468 (unpatented) as a female or seed parent with Guzmania wittmackii inbred line identified by code 01364344 (unpatented) as the male or pollen parent. (b) harvesting seeds produced from said cross; and (c) producing plants from said harvested seeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent application publication with color drawings will be provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fees.

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Guzmania hybrid ‘Alegra’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describes the color of ‘Alegra’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a flowering plant of ‘Alegra’, at 14 months of age from potting size.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up top view perspective of the inflorescence and top bracts produced by a typical potted, flowering plant of ‘Alegra’, at 14 months of age from potting size.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The present invention was created by the inventors, Elly Bak and Nicolaas D. M. Steur in 2001, and flowered for the first time in 2006 in Assendelft, The Netherlands.

This invention is directed to Guzmania plant having all the morphological and physiological characteristics of the hybrid ‘Alegra’ produced from seeds which are the product of the cross of the Guzmania lingulata inbred line identified by code 0136468 (unpatented) as the female or seed parent with the Guzmania wittmackii inbred line identified by code 01364344 (unpatented) as the male or pollen parent. Both parents have a sufficient degree of homozygosity such that the progeny of the cross were, and continue to be, phenotypically uniform. The new hybrid ‘Alegra’ can therefore be produced by sexual reproduction by crossing of the inbred selections identified by the codes 0136468 and 01364344 to produce a population of progeny plants, each of which has the combination of characteristics herein disclosed for the new hybrid ‘Alegra’.

The new hybrid ‘Alegra’ can also be produced by asexually reproducing progeny from the cross of the parental inbred lines identified by the codes 0136468 and 01364344. Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by vegetative means by cuttings was first performed in 2006, in Assendelft, The Netherlands. The first ‘Alegra’ plants propagated through the use of such cuttings flowered in 2009, in Assendelft, The Netherlands, and have demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true-to-type and that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘Alegra’ which in combination distinguish this Guzmania as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Stemless growth habit;     -   2. Funnel-form rosette plant, measuring about 60 cm in height         (above the pot when flowering);     -   3. Numerous, green color foliage (measuring about 50 cm in         length and about 4.5 cm in width.     -   4. Superior floral bract production;     -   5. Bracts are orange-red in color (closest to RHS 33A)     -   6. Compound inflorescence, measuring about 25 cm in height, when         flowering and about 20 cm in diameter     -   7. Long-lasting habit.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventors, the most similar in comparison to the new Guzmania hybrid 01364 is the Guzmania cultivar ‘OSTARA’. Plants of the new hybrid ‘Alegra’ differ from plants of ‘OSTARA’ primarily in color of the inflorescence. The new hybrid ‘Alegra’ exhibits orange-red inflorescence whereas the inflorescence of ‘Ostara’ is red.

‘Alegra’ has not been tested and observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, frequency of fertilization, composition of fertilizer, flowering treatment, day length and humidity, without any change in the genotype of the plant.

For example, substantial differences in plant height and diameter, number of leaves, can result depending on the size of the plant at the time that flowering is induced by flowering treatment. Since treatment to induce flowering disrupts normal watering and fertilization regimens, flowering treatment of relatively smaller plants adversely affects the growth of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe the new Guzmania ‘Alegra’ as grown in a greenhouse in Assendelft, The Netherlands, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Plants of ‘Alegra’ were grown in a greenhouse with day temperatures ranging from 20° C. to 28° C. and night temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 23° C. No artificial lighting or photoperiodic treatments were conducted, but plants of ‘Alegra’ are forced into flowering. The following fertilizer is added when growing plants of ‘Alegra’: 1 part nitrogen, 0.6 parts phosphor, 2 parts Kalium and 0.1 parts magnesium.

Color references are made to the Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (RHS), 2001 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions in a greenhouse in Assendelft, The Netherlands. The age of the plants of ‘Alegra’ described is about 17 weeks after flowering treatment.

Classification:

-   -   Botanical: Guzmania lingulata×wittmackii

Parentage:

-   -   Female Parent: Guzmania lingulata inbred line identified by code         0136468 (unpatented)     -   Male Parent: Guzmania wittmackii inbred line identified by code         01364344 (unpatented)

PLANT:

-   -   General Appearance and Form:         -   Height: About 60 cm (when flowering)         -   Width: About 65 cm         -   Shape: Funnel form rosette     -   Growth habit: Stemless     -   Plant Vigor: Good     -   Flowering Season: A fully grown plant can flower year round,         starting 16-18 weeks after induction of natural light or through         flowering treatment.     -   Cold Tolerance: Frost tender. Temperatures below 5° C. may         damage plants.     -   Fragrance: None

FOLIAGE:

-   -   Quantity: About 14 (depending on the size of the plant)     -   Size of Leaf:         -   Length: About 30 cm to 50 cm (when flowering)         -   Width: About 4.5 cm     -   Overall Shape: linear lanceolate     -   Apex Shape: acuminate     -   Base Shape: Strap-like around central axis     -   Margin: Entire     -   Texture: Smooth     -   Orientation: Leaf blades arch continuously from base.     -   Color: Leaf color can vary somewhat depending on growing         conditions.         -   Immature and Mature:             -   Upper surface: green, RHS 137A             -   Under surface: green, RHS 137C     -   Venation: None

INFLORESCENCE:

-   -   Borne: Erect     -   Shape: compound     -   Size:         -   Length: About 25 cm in height when flowering         -   Diameter: About 20 cm     -   Time of Bloom: A fully grown plant can produce an inflorescence         containing about 125 flowers (depending on the size of the         plants), and can bloom the whole year starting about 16-18 weeks         after natural induction or through flowering treatment.     -   Duration of Bloom: Each flower blooms one (1) day and the total         blooming of the whole inflorescence is about 6 weeks.     -   Petals.         -   Number: 3 per flower         -   Length: About 6 cm         -   Width: About 0.5 cm         -   Overall Shape: Ligulate         -   Apex Shape: Obtuse         -   Base Shape: Fused         -   Color:             -   Upper and under surfaces: yellow, closest to RHS 9A     -   Sepals:         -   Number: 3 per flower         -   Length: About 3.5 cm         -   Width: About 0.4 cm         -   Overall Shape: Ligulate         -   Apex Shape: Acute         -   Base Shape: Fused         -   Color:             -   Upper and under surfaces: translucent

BRACTS:

-   -   Scape Bracts:     -   Quantity: About 7     -   arrangement: Alternate     -   Size:         -   Length: About 40 cm (lowest) to about 25 cm (scape bracts             positioned just below the primary bracts).         -   Width: About 4 cm     -   Overall shape: linear lanceolate     -   Apex shape: acute     -   Base shape: fused     -   Margin: entire     -   Texture: Smooth         -   Upper and under surfaces:         -   Scape bracts are green, closest to RHS 137A to red, closest             to RHS 34B with green just below the primary bracts     -   Primary Bracts:         -   Quantity: About 16         -   Arrangement: Alternate:             -   Size :Length: About 20 cm (lowest) to about 9 cm                 (primary bracts become shorter closer to the top of                 plant)             -   Width: About 2 cm to 3.5 cm         -   Overall shape: recurved and ovate-lanceolate         -   Apex shape: Acute         -   Base shape: Fused         -   Margin: Entire         -   Texture: Smooth         -   Color:             -   Upper and under surfaces: orange-red, closest to RHS 33A     -   Floral bracts: disposed within the inflorescence

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS:

-   -   Androecium:     -   Stamen:         -   Number: 6 per flower         -   Length: About 4 cm         -   Diameter: About 1 mm         -   Color: cream, too small to distinguish RHS value     -   Anther:         -   Length: About 0.5 cm         -   Color: cream, too small to distinguish RHS value     -   Pollen:         -   Amount: none observed         -   Gynoecium:     -   Pistil:         -   Number: 1 per flower         -   Length: About 5 cm     -   Stigma:         -   Shape: 3-parted         -   Width: About 0.3 mm         -   Color: light yellow, too small to distinguish RHS value     -   Style:         -   Length: About 4.5 cm         -   Color: light yellow, too small to distinguish RHS value     -   Ovary:         -   Position: Superior         -   Shape: Conical         -   Length: About 0.5 cm         -   Diameter: About 0.3 cm         -   Color: yellow-green, closest to RHS 144D

SEEDS/FRUIT: sterile hybrid, no seed or fruit produced.

DISEASE/PEST RESISTANCE: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to normal diseases and pests of Guzmania have been observed. 

1. A Guzmania plant named ‘Alegra’, representative seed having been deposited at the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) and accorded Patent Deposit Designation no.: PTA
 120675. 2. Guzmania seed as mentioned in claim
 1. 3. Plants part obtained from the Guzmania plant of claim
 1. 4. A method of producing Guzmania progeny plant comprising the steps of (a) crossing Guzmania lingulata inbred line identified by code 0136468 (unpatented) as the female or seed parent with Guzmania wittmackii inbred line identified by code 01364344 (unpatented) as the male or pollen parent. (b) harvesting seeds produced from said cross.
 5. (canceled) 